Car-coupling



(No Model.)

J. H. KING & B. P. REED.

GAR COUPLING No. 404,717. Patented June 4, 1889.

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'q/vi/lm/emao M UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JONATHAN HOLDEN KING AND BENJAMIN FRANKLIN REED, OF S WAN CREEK, ILLINOIS.

CAR-COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 404,717, dated June 4, 1889.

Application filed March 5, 1889. Serial No. 30l,907. (N0 model) To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that we, JONATHAN HOLDEN KING and BENJAMIN FRANKLIN REED, citi zens of the United States, residing at Swan Creek, in the county of Warren and State of Illinois, have invented new and useful Improvements in Car-Couplings, of which the following is a specification.

Our invention relates to improvements in car-couplings; and it consists in certain novel features, hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a car-coupling embodying our invention. Fig. 2 is a transverse vertical section looking toward the front end or mouth of the draw-head. Fig. 3 is a vertical longitudinal section of the same, and Fig. 4 is a horizontal section of the draw-head.

Our invention has especial reference to couplings of the pin-and-link variety, and, in the drawings, A designates the draw-head having the ordinary coupling-pin B mounted in its front end and passing through the ordinary coupling-link C. On the draw-head, at one of the upper corners of the same, we provide the offset or fulcrum-block D, to the side of which we fulcrum a lever, E, which extends transversely across the draw-head, and projects beyond the opposite side of the same. A spring, F, is secured to the drawhead and bears against the under side of the lever to hold it normally elevated, and the upward movement of the lever is limited by a stop pin or stud G, projecting laterally from the fulcrum-block, as shown.

The draw-head is provided in its top with a transverse slot H, which is arranged just in rear of the pin-opening in the top of the drawhead and in the floor of the draw-head, just in rear of the lower pin-opening, we provide a recess I. A presser-plate J is pivoted at its upper end to an intermediate point of the lever, and depends therefrom through the slot II in the top of the draw-head.

In practice the link is made to enter the draw-head and is engaged by the couplingpin. Upon reference to Fig. 3 it will be seen that when the link enters the draw-head its inner end will project over the recess I in the floor of the draw-head, and the lower edge of the presser-plate J will be directly over the said recess and the end of the link. When it is desired to couple to another draw-head, the transverse lever is depressed so as to cause the presser-plate to bear on the inner end of the link and thereby push the same downward into the recess in the floor of the draw-head. The outer end of the link will thus be raised, so that it will be at the proper height to enter the opposing draw head. Upon relieving the pressure on the lever the spring bearing thereon at once raises the same, lifting the presser-plate and allowing the coupling-link to assume a horizontal position.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that we have provided a very simple coupling, by the use of which the links will be caused to enter the draw-head with certainty and the coupling effectually accomplished. The normal position of the link when in only one draw-head will bewith its outer end downward, and by exert-ing more or less pressure on the transverse lever, the outer end of the link can be raised to a greater or less extent, as will be readily understood, so that the two draw-heads can be positively coupled together whatever the difference between their respective heights from the ground may be. 1

Having thus described our invention, what we claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination of the draw-head having a recess in its floor, the fulcrum-block on the draw-head, the lever fulcrumed on said block, the presser-plate pivoted to the lever a'hd adapted to push the inner end of the link into the recess in the draw-head, and the spring secured to the draw-head and bearing on the lever to hold it normally elevated, as set forth.

2. The combination of the draw-head having a recess in its floor and a transverse slot in its top, the fulcrum-block on the drawhead, the lever fulcrumed to said block and extending over the draw-head, the presserplat-e pivoted to said lever and depending therefrom through the slot in the draw-head and having its lower end arranged over the recess in thefloor of the draw-head,the spring secured to the draw-head and bearing against the lever, and the stop projecting laterally from the fulcrum-block above the lever, as set forth.

In testimony that we claim the foregoing as our own We have hereto affixed our signatures in presence of two Witnesses.

JONATHAN HOLDEN KING. BENJAMIN FRANKLIN REED.

Witnesses:

F. A. ROBERTS, B. F. SAMPSON. 

